By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 August 2025 at 7:49 am
Brandi Zavitz has worked since late May on 32-foot-long mural at Medina Dog Park
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A 32-foot-long mural at the Medina Dog Park features many of the community’s beloved dogs, showing them doing some of their favorite activities – playing with tennis balls, relaxing at the beach, playing catch and eating ice cream.
Brandi Zavitz has given these dogs lots of personality. A dog that was viewed as a strong protector is depicted wearing a sheriff’s hat. Another dog that loved the spoiled life is shown as a princess with a crown and a royal robe.
Zavitz has created an impressive scene with this mural. Many of the park’s users are moved to tears when they see their dogs.
“It is absolutely amazing,” said Cindy Davis, leader of the Medina Dog Park.
There will be a public reception in the near future for the finished mural.
Davis and Zavitz wanted a mural to enliven the park. They were talking about it last year. Some of the dogs that were regulars at the park had passed away since it opened in September 2020.
Zavitz is a retired art teacher who has painted murals in the community. She envisioned a mural where she would paint some of those dogs, giving them angel wings. Zavitz has long painted portraits of dogs and she wanted show their personalities and activities they enjoy. She gave them superhero capes, tutu dresses, a Buffalo Bills jersey and other features to show their character. One dog enjoy sailboat rides so Zavitz painted a sailboat on the mural.
The mural was initially planned to be 24 feet long and would include 50 dogs. For $100, Zavitz would paint a beloved pet with the proceeds going to the Medina Dog Park.
But there was a big response from the community. Zavitz added another 8-foot-section. Her nearly finished artwork includes 69 dogs, 3 cats and an ox.
Zavitz included Orly the Ox in the upper left corner to show the mural was done in 2025, the year of the county’s bicentennial. Orly has been the county’s ambassador the past year, helping to promote the bicentennial of Orleans County. He is shown in front of a sandstone building. Zavitz wanted to recognize the community’s Medina Sandstone heritage.
Zavitz and the Dog Park received a $5,000 grant from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!) towards the project.
Kye, Medina’s K9 for nine years, is shown with his super hero cape. He passed away from bone cancer in February 2022. Kye was an 11 year old Belgian Malinois that served the Medina PD from 2012 to 2021. Todd Draper served as Kye’s handler. After the dog retired about a year ago it continued to stay with Draper’s family.
The Medina Dog Park opened in September 2020 at a fenced-in area on North Gravel Road, next to the village’s former compost plant, just south of Boxwood Cemetery.
Zavitz painted the branches in the shape of the heart. She said many people love their dogs as cherished family members and the dogs love them back with a deep devotion.
Zavitz is adding some fairies to the mural in one of the finishing touches of the large painting.
The mural may be extended in future years to accommodate the demand, Zavitz and Davis said. There were about 30 others who wanted their dog on the mural and Davis said more will likely want to be included after seeing Zavitz’s creativity and care in honoring these beloved pets.
ALBION – Landlords with vacant rental units in the Albion area are invited to attend an upcoming informational session for the New York State Vacant Rental Rehabilitation Program.
The session will be hosted by the Village of Albion in partnership with G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing. The meeting will be Wednesday, August 13, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Village of Albion offices, 35 E. Bank St.
This state-funded program is designed to assist property owners in bringing vacant rental units back into active use through eligible rehabilitation work, supporting the broader goal of increasing access to quality rental housing in the community. During the session, attendees will learn about program eligibility requirements, available funding, the application process, and how disbursements are handled.
“This initiative presents an excellent opportunity for landlords to invest in their properties while contributing to Albion’s housing stability,” said Jay Grasso of G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing. “We’re excited to help local property owners understand how to take full advantage of the program.”
All property owners with vacant rental units in the Village of Albion are encouraged to attend. No registration is required.
For questions or additional information, please contact G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing at Nichola@ggprocess.com or (585) 368-8866.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 August 2025 at 12:44 pm
‘For months now the administration has put the Iroquois Job Corps Center in limbo. For the people who work here, for the people who train here, each day might be their last. That’s no way to live. That’s no way to do a job.’ – Sen. Schumer
Photos by Tom Rivers: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer was in Medina this morning outside Brunner to show his support for the Iroquois Job Corps Center, one of 99 that was targeted for closure by the U.S. Department of Labor. A federal judge has issued an injunction to keep the program going while the case is heard in court.
MEDINA – U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer was in Medina this morning to state his strong support for keeping the Iroquois Job Corps open as well as others targeted for closure by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Schumer said the Iroquois site for about a half century has provided critical job and life skills to at-risk students.
“For months now the administration has put the Iroquois Job Corps Center in limbo,” Schumer said before a crowd of Job Corps supporters at Brunner. “For the people who work there, for the people who train there, each day might be their last. That’s no way to live. That’s no way to do a job.”
Schumer said there is bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate to keep Job Corps funded into the future. The program is currently funded until Sept. 30 but a budget bill advanced by the Trump administration doesn’t include money for Job Corps. Schumer said the Senate will include funds for Job Corps, but the House of Representatives needs to hear from communities that back the continued funding for the program.
“We’re all here with one single message: We want to save the Iroquois Job Corps Center,” Schumer said. “We got to save it if we want our young people to have a future. We don’t want them to have a handout. We want them to have a future. They should know if they work hard and learn a skill they can get a good-paying job to support a family and be proud parents and proud spouses. That’s what this center has done for so long.”
Brunner hosted Schumer’s press conference because the company has a longstanding relationship with Job Corps. The center has directed many high-quality employees to runner and other local companies, said Eric Bauer, general manager for Brunner in Medina. The company on Bates Road manufactures brake systems for tractor trailers.
“The program has proven to be a reliable pipeline for well-qualified individuals who support Brunner’s ongoing success,” Bauer said about the Job Corps.
Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson speaks in support of the Iroquois Job Corps Center. She said the program has an $8.9 million direct impact on the local economy. She noted the National Association of Counties made keeping the Job Corps program open one of the association’s top priorities during its conference last month. “It’s no secret that we consider the Iroquois Job Corps center in Medina hugely important to creating pathways to employment for many young men and women,” Johnson said.
Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced on May 29 that 99 privately run Job Corps centers would go on “pause” due to what she said were low graduation rates and high incidents of violence. She said Job Corps is not cost-effective. She set June 30 as the date for the centers to close, with students to be sent home earlier on June 6.
But U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter said the Department of Labor can’t dismantle a program that Congress established and set aside funding to run. A preliminary injunction nationally will allow the centers to stay open while litigation continues.
The Job Corps program was founded in 1964 to help teenagers and young adults who struggled to finish traditional high school and find jobs. The program provides tuition-free housing at residential centers, training, meals and health care.
Schumer said he is optimistic Job Corps will win in court. He said ending the program in the middle of the year “is wrong and probably illegal.”
The Iroquois site has 100 employees with a capacity to serve 225 students. But right now only 46 students are on site. Iroquois needs the DOL to do students’ background checks so students can return to the centers.
Pictured from left: Eric Seppala, center director of the Iroquois Job Corps; graduate Kevon Parson; U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer; and Lindzey Clark, a 2022 Job Corps graduate.
A recent Job Corps graduate spoke about the program’s impact in his life. Kevon Parson, 24, graduated four years ago. He has completed his apprenticeship as a mason and is now a journeyman working for a Buffalo contractor.
Parson said the program strengthened him in more ways than just learning a trade. He was the student government president while at Job Corps. He said the staff pour their hearts into the student body, helping to equip them from when they graduated.
“The employees aren’t there for a check,” he said. “They love the students. When they look at you, you aren’t a bar code on your forehead. You’re a human.”
Lindzey Clark, a 2022 graduate of Job Corps, completed a program as a certified clinical medical assistant. When she graduated, she worked a job at the Rite Aid in Batavia. Now she is back in school at Niagara County Community College studying psychology with a goal to become a therapist.
Clark said Job Corps is critical for many of students who come to the center in challenging life circumstances.
Many of the students earn their driver’s licenses, and learn other life skills for the next steps of their lives, she said.
“They completely set you up for more than a trade,” Clark said.
Rollin Hellner said Job Corps graduates have been hard-working employees for his business that tackles many redevelopment projects in the region.
Rollin Hellner, owner and president of Hellner Development Company, said he has hired more than a dozen graduates from Job Corps who work in carpentry, masonry and other construction skills.
Those Job Corps graduates bring an eagerness to learn skills and work on projects, Hellner said.
“It’s important to bring the next generation into a career path,” he said.
Job Corps, he said, “is an investment in education, people and our future.”
Jennifer Hill-Young, representing the Medina Rotary Club, said Job Corps students have helped local service clubs put on many of their events and fundraisers. Students also made Buddy Benches for local parks, birdfeeders at a local nursing home and Adirondack chairs for public spaces in the community.
“Their students not only learn valuable trades – they put those skills to work by giving back to their community,” Hill-Young said. “What truly sets them apart is the pride and heart they bring to every project. The Rotary Club of Medina is incredibly grateful for Iroquois Job Corps’ partnership.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 5 August 2025 at 9:01 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Village of Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman stands with Assemblyman Steve Hawley, left, and State Senator Rob Ortt at the unveiling Monday of an interpretive panel detailing Medina’s involvement in the Underground Railroad. Hawley and Ortt funded the panel, which stands by the historic sign for Frederick Douglass in front of Main Street TV and Appliance.
MEDINA – A new piece of history was unveiled in Medina on Monday afternoon, with the dedication of an interpretive panel detailing Medina’s involvement in the Underground Railroad.
“Medina residents have long been intrigued about their community’s contribution to the Underground Railroad,” said Chris Busch, president of Orleans Renaissance Group, whose efforts resulted in installation of the panel. “There are many examples of local lore and legend regarding area homes with odd architectural features, that were rumored to have been used to help escaped slaves – but none of these stories were substantiated. For myself, a former village historian and Social Studies teacher, this has always been a topic of great interest. That’s why a letter in the New York Daily Tribune on June 29, 1854 is so important. It confirms without a doubt that Medina’s citizens played a role.”
The new panel is next to a historical marker unveiled in 2015 that noted famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass gave two speeches in Medina.
The article mentions a chattel who arrived by Underground Railway in the village of Medina, N.Y. from Richmond, Va. The article tells of his destitute condition and how he sat in the home of a friend.
It continues to read, “And while darkness still held the portals of the East on sabbath morn, he set out, accompanied with a friend, for his prospective home in Canada, where we rejoice to know, he safely arrived on Sunday evening.”
The panel explains, “All over the North the news was the same. A fugitive slave reached Medina, N.Y.; the people hid him, supplied him with money and hurried him into Canada. The NY Tribune letter enumerates the details of a fugitive slave who arrived in Medina and was assisted to freedom by organized locals via the “Underground Railway.” Where this safe house was or to whom it belonged remains a mystery along with any other names or locations. Nonetheless, this singular piece of historic information confirms local lore and clearly shines a light on Medina’s efforts in assisting fugitive slaves to find freedom.”
Also documented on the panel are Medina’s connection to “Free Soldiers” and the “Free Soil Party,” Frederick Douglass’ speeches in Medina and Medina attorney Silas Mainville Burroughs Sr.’s efforts against slavery.
The Underground Railroad panel is the 14th in a series which was debuted with 11 panels being installed throughout the village in 2014. Each was made possible through generous donations of sponsorship, Busch said. Two more panels were added last year, one telling the story of the British field gun and World War I memorial in State Street Park and one chronicling the contributions of the Burroughs family, also in State Street Park.
The marker in recognition of two speeches delivered in the Medina community by Frederick Douglass, a leading abolitionist, were unveiled in April 2015 by ORG, also through generous donations from the community.
With Busch’s discovery of the letter in the New York Tribune, Medina has recently been designated as a municipality along the New York Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway by the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State.
Busch quotes information from the Consortium’s website in which they highlighted the Douglass historical marker on Main Street in Medina, and says, “However, there is significantly more to the story of Medina’s contribution to the Underground Railroad and the cause of abolition.”
Chris Busch, left, president of Orleans Renaissance Group, talks with Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman and Assemblyman Steve Hawley while waiting to dedicate in interpretive panel with Senator Rob Ortt, detailing Medina’s involvement in the Underground Railroad. Busch was instrumental in efforts to create the panel and obtain funding from the legislators.
The website explains how Busch, while researching another project in 2017, noticed a reference to Medina and the Underground Railroad quoted in a multi-volume history of the Civil War by Allan Nevins, entitled The Ordeal of the Nation. It revealed a footnote for the reference, noting the letter published in the New York Tribune.
By locating the letter in the Tribune, Busch uncovered the first known published testimonial by a resident of Medina regarding the community’s role in the Underground Railroad.
“This was a really cool discovery,” Busch said Monday.
He contacted State Senator Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley, asking if they could help with funding the 14th interpretive panel documenting Medina’s involvement in the Underground Railroad.
“My grandparents’ home in Warsaw was part of the Underground Railroad,” Hawley said. “I jumped at the chance to talk about it. My family has a history of supporting freedom.”
The new interpretive panel is the 14th in Medina about local history.
“When Busch contacted me and asked if we had the ability to help, I thought it was a worthy thing,” Ortt said. “For the amount of $1,000, split 50/50, I said, ‘Let’s do it.’ Steve and I both looked at it and wanted to help make it happen. I am well versed in the role other parts of my district played,” he added, citing Niagara Falls and the Underground Railroad Museum.
“There is an uptick of people coming here to Medina and they should know about things like this,” Ortt said. “It’s important to show them your history. I’m standing here where Frederick Douglass made a speech, and that’s a great thing.”
“Medina should be proud of what they have here,” Hawley said. “When I first got elected, I came to Medina. You have the opera house and fine restaurants. What you see in Medina is the envy of a lot of other counties.”
“The secret is we all work together and that’s important,” said Mayor Marguerite Sherman.
Ortt said a lot of villages along the canal maintained their old integrity.
“Medina said ‘no’ to urban renewal, and look at it now,” he said. “This is what people want.”
Looking up and down at Medina’s historic Main Street, Ortt said, “You couldn’t rebuild this in a million years.”
“This was all due to Chris,” Sherman said, pointing to the new panel, which he researched and designed.
Busch added his thanks to Jason Watts, superintendent of the Medina DPW and the DPW staff which did the installation, and the Print Shop, which fabricated the sign base and panel.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 August 2025 at 8:12 am
MEDINA – The Village of Medina is accepting applications for police chief with the impending retirement of Todd Draper from the position.
Draper’s retirement will become effective Aug. 30. He has served as police chief since June 12, 2023.
Draper has worked for Medina for 21 years, including 8 ½ years as a K9 handler until Kye, a Belgian Malinois, retired in November 2020.
Resumes and cover letters can be emailed to Mayor Marguerite Sherman at msherman@villagemedina.gov or dropped off in person at 119 Park Ave., Medina, NY 14103.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 August 2025 at 7:57 am
County considered ‘abnormally dry’ by Drought Monitor
Photo by Tom Rivers: The grass along the towpath of the Erie Canal, just west of the Brown Street canal bridge, has turned yellow due to a persistent lack of rain. Orleans County is currently listed as “abnormally dry” by the U.S. Drought Monitor, which updates its map every Thursday. Niagara, Genesee, most of Erie and the western part of Monroe counties also are considered “abnormally dry.”
For the third straight day, an air-quality alert has been issued in Orleans County due to the Canadian wildfires.
There will be widespread haze in Orleans today. It will be partly sunny with a high near 83.
The State Department of Environmental Conservation at has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for fine particulates across upstate New York until midnight tonight.
Air-quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of over 100 for fine particulates.
When pollution levels are elevated, the State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.
People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 August 2025 at 8:20 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Thrive Foods about three years ago acquired the Freeze-Dry facility in Albion at 111 West Ave. Thrive had big plans for the site, but laid off 29 workers in December and today told the remaining staff of 40 the site would be closing. Many of the workers were sent home today.
ALBION – Three years ago the new owner of the Freeze-Dry facility had grand plans for the site, with planned capital investments and more workers.
But this morning, many of the employees were told the site is closing and today was their last day on the job.
There has been no official notice that Thrive Foods is closing the Albion site. There hasn’t been a WARN notification from the Department of Labor. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act helps ensure advance notice if there is a plant closing or mass layoff. The WARN Act applies to layoffs of at least 50 people. Thrive had about 40 employees in Albion.
Thrive already had reduced the Albion workforce by about 30 in December. Back then Thrive had about 75 workers in Albion.
In September 2022, Thrive Foods announced it acquired Freeze-Dry, which at the time had 60 employees. Freeze-Dry had operated for about 20 years out of a 240,000-square-foot facility, which previously was used by Lipton’s and then Ontario Foods at 111 West Ave.
Freeze-Dry Foods specialized in freeze-dried products, including pet treats, proteins and ingredients. It was honored in 2016 as the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year.
The products have a shelf life of up to 25 years because Freeze-Dry eliminates moisture and oxygen, while preserving nutrients, flavor, taste, color and aroma.
Freeze-Dry was one of the few freeze dry companies in the United States. (The technique dehydrates frozen foods so the moisture content changes directly from a solid to a gaseous form. The product maintains its original size and shape with a minimum of cell rupture. Removing moisture prevents a product from deteriorating at room temperature.)
Thrive Foods also manufactures freeze-dried products, including fruits and vegetables, proteins, pet treats, probiotics, enzymes and prepared meals. When Thrive bought the Albion site, it then also had facilities in Modesto, California and American Fork, Utah.
Steve Palmer, CEO of Thrive Foods, met with the Albion workforce on Aug. 26, 2022. He told the staff there would be more jobs, and investment in the Albion facility.
Thrive was eligible for a state grant but the company never met the employment obligations and the application was withdrawn, according to the December minutes of the Orleans Economic Development Agency.
Orleans Hub reached out to Thrive officials for a comment but didn’t get a response yet today.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 August 2025 at 2:52 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: Jonah Fisher, 5, of Albion high fives Sparky the Fire Dog. Jonah’s dad, Medina firefighter Adam Fisher, wore the costume of the friendly dalmatian during National Night Out in Medina on Aug. 2, 2022. The event returns on Tuesday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. outside the intermediate school.
MEDINA – An event that connects residents with first responders and community organizations returns on Tuesday.
National Night Out will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. outside the Clifford Wise Intermediate School. The event is free with hot dogs, beverages and many activities.
National Night Out often draws about 700 people. Albion hosted NNO for five years from 2015 to 2019. It was then cancelled due to the Covid pandemic and restrictions in 2020 and 2021. Medina has hosted it annually since 2022.
“There are a lot of activities, and it will be a way for families to meet law enforcement and establish a connection and relationship,” said Diana Fulcomer, a prevention educator with UConnectCare. She is co-chair of the NNO committee with Sherri Bensley, public health educator with GO Health.
There will be a K9 demonstration at 5:45 p.m., the Battle of the Belts competition beginning at 6:30, and many community members in the dunk tank most of the event. The battle of the Belts feature four-person teams alternating as fast as they can to put on seat belts in four different seats in a car.
More than 40 community groups are expected to be at NNO. There will also be a magician, caricaturist and balloon artist.
A committee has been working on planning National Night Out since January. Fulcomer said NNO is a county-wide event. The committee is open to trying another location next year. The group partners with a law enforcement agency to host the event.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 August 2025 at 2:01 pm
Photo courtesy of Bridget DiCureia
MEDINA – Medina’s Class of 1985 celebrated its 40th reunion this past weekend. More than 70 of the classmates and friends attended the reunion.
The class is shown during a gathering at the Knights of Columbus in Medina.
The class tends to have a reunion every five years but missed the one in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic.
This reunion saw classmates travel to Medina from New York and other states, including Alabama, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, New Hampshire and North Carolina.
The class donated $200 to support classmate retired Army Major Anthony Paige’s Ruck-Up Inc., an organization that helps with advocacy, counseling, suicide prevention and overall support to veterans.
ALBION – Orleans County Clerk Nadine P. Hanlon today urged residents to sign up for a free service that will help protect them from deed fraud.
Fraud Notify is a tool provided through the Orleans County Clerk’s office that alerts people whenever a document, such as a deed or a mortgage, is recorded under their names with the Orleans County Clerk.
“Recently in the news, there have been plenty of stories of unsuspecting homeowners who had fraudulent deeds filed on their homes and there have been attempts right here in Orleans County,” said Hanlon. “While the Fraud Notify service cannot block any filings, the fact that you are notified instantly allows you to contact law enforcement and get a lawyer to immediately put a stop to it.”
On that site, click the link to subscribe to Fraud Notify.
Sign up by creating an account. Although there is a box checked for “Billing address” you will NOT be billed for signing up for this service.
You will then receive an email to confirm your account and verify your email address.
Go back to Fraud Notify and log in with your credentials and add names of those you want to receive alerts for, like yourself and your spouse; or parents or grandparents if they cannot receive emails.
“The whole process takes just a few minutes, which is well worth it to know you are protecting your most valuable asset— your home,” said Hanlon.
Hanlon added that those that have the same name as other Orleans County residents could receive alerts for documents that do not pertain to their real property.
Oak Orchard Health started in 1973 and has expanded to several sites in WNY
By Karen Kinter, CEO of Oak Orchard Health
Provided photos: The Oak Orchard Community Health Center is shown under construction in 1991 in Albion.
ALBION – The National Association of Community Health Centers is celebrating 60 years of community health centers.
In 1989, they were designated as Federally Qualified Health Centers. They offer affordable primary healthcare across America. As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, we honor their extraordinary journey from humble beginnings to becoming the backbone of our nation’s largest primary care network.
Today, FQHCs operate over 16,000 locations nationwide, serving 32.5 million patients. In New York State, health centers serve over 2.4 million patients, including 685,532 children and 283,425 older adults.
Oak Orchard Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center, was founded in 1973 and has grown into an integrated health system serving 34,000 patients across eleven locations. We understand what makes our communities special. We’re culturally aware and work hard to meet the unique needs of everyone who lives and works in our community, including agricultural workers and individuals from diverse backgrounds, including all races and genders.
The History and Value of Community Health Centers
Community Health Centers (CHCs) originated in the 1960s as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty” and the civil rights movement, with the goal of providing healthcare to underserved communities. Key milestones include the establishment of the first two centers in 1965, the formalization of the “Federally Qualified Health Center” (FQHC) designation in 1989, and the inclusion of FQHCs in the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Today, FQHCs are a cornerstone of the US healthcare system, providing comprehensive primary and preventative care to millions, regardless of their ability to pay.
FQHCs serve approximately 10% of the U.S. population but account for roughly 1% of total annual healthcare spending in the United States. By keeping people healthy, primary care doesn’t just save lives – it saves money.
The History of Oak Orchard Health
This group celebrates the opening of the community health center in Albion.
The vision for Oak Orchard Health (OOH) came from Dr. James Perrin, a pediatrician at the University of Rochester. He wanted to create a community-controlled health center that could address all the unmet healthcare needs of the area.
The first Oak Orchard Community Health Center was located at the former McNall Furniture store, 52 N. Main St., in downtown Albion. The name Oak Orchard originated here, as Route 98 passed through Albion, which was part of the old Oak Orchard Trail that ran from Batavia to Point Breeze on the lake.
OOH soon outgrew its first facility, and since there was no large space available to rent in Albion, the Board’s Building committee looked for a site in Brockport. OOH relocated to the Booth Building at 80 West Avenue. The board felt that this location gave OOH a good quality image. Since there was still a demand for quality medical care in Albion, a satellite office remained there. Soon, an office would be built at the Arnold Gregory Hospital, which opened in the spring of 1976. OOH would lease this space until the hospital closed.
Within three years, this group of dedicated community members opened two health centers employing seven full-time doctors and their supporting staff. Its mission was and continues to be to deliver high-quality healthcare at an affordable cost to anyone in the community who needs it.
Funding of Health Centers Today
It is essential to the health of Oak Orchard Health and the nation that federal funding continue for health centers, ensuring people have access to affordable primary care. Today, Federally Qualified Health Centers, like Oak Orchard, serve 1 in 5 rural Americans.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 August 2025 at 10:02 am
Gas prices at the end of July were at an average of $3.15 a gallon nationally for regular unleaded, which matches the price at this time in 2021, the last time summer gas prices were this low, AAA reported this morning.
The national price today is at $3.15 today, compared to $3.48 a year ago. The state average is $3.17, no change from a week ago and down from $3.59 a year ago.
Diesel prices are up a cent to $3.74 compared to last week. The New York average is $3.92, no change from last week.
Here are the average prices for regular unleaded in WNY counties:
State Sen. Earl Brydges, center, visits the Iroquois Narcotics Rehabilitation Center in July 1970. He is shown with, from left: Herbert Riley, work coordinator; Valory Koch, leader of the Narcotics Rehabilitation Center; John Kennedy, former Medina mayor and member of community liaison committee; and John Cobb, Medina’s mayor at the time. Koch is presenting the state senator with an ashtray made in the pottery shop.
SHELBY – A recent inquiry about the existence of a drug rehabilitation program at the Job Corps facility in Shelby prompted us to research its history.
In light of the recent announcement to close the Job Corps program, it is interesting to note that from its very inception, the fate of the facility has been determined by outside political swings and changes, rather than by its performance.
Job Corps, a federally funded residential and job training opportunity for disadvantaged youth, was established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty.
Locally, the establishment of a Job Corps camp on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in Shelby was announced in early May 1965. The camp would be located on Tibbits Road, about a quarter of a mile east of Sour Springs Road. Up to one hundred young men were expected to go into training at the camp. An article in the Medina Daily Journal, July 9, 1965, explained:
“The Job Corps provides jobs for boys aged 16-21 who are mostly school dropouts from poverty-stricken areas and trains them so that they can obtain employment when they leave.”
At first glance, the location of this Job Corps site on the edge of a remote 10,000-acre wildlife Refuge, may seem unusual, but is better understood when one realizes that the initial objective of the program was to provide labor for the development of the Refuge. The boys were to be trained in the skills necessary to install nature trails to attract visitors. They would also work on creating dams to encourage backflow, thus encouraging waterfowl to come to the area to breed.
Newly appointed director, Raymond Calagne, based the office for the newly named Iroquois Job Corps Conservation Center in a former farmhouse at the corner of Oak Orchard Ridge Road and Sour Springs Road in Shelby.
Benderson Construction Co. of Buffalo constructed the shop, warehouse, combination dining room/education/recreation building, and two dormitories, each providing accommodation for 56 boys. Three trailer-living units provided accommodation for employees and their families on site.
The facility opened in 1966 with the Shelby location was the only Job Corps installation in New York State.
On Jan. 29, 1968, it was slated for immediate closure, along with 16 others nationwide, as part of a budget cutting measure. The remaining Job Corps sites were closed in 1969. The underlying philosophy had changed: the new theory was that disadvantaged, unskilled urban youth could be more effectively trained in urban sites, rather than in remote conservation sites.
Naturally, the announcement was greeted locally with astonishment and dismay. The facility cost $800,000 to build, had 149 students and a budget of almost $500,000.
On August 6, 1968, a plan to convert the former Jobs Corps Center into a New York State sponsored facility for drug addicts was announced. The Iroquois Narcotics Rehabilitation Center would be an experimental site, an “open” treatment facility. Director A. Luis Cid elaborated on the nature of this “open” program, to reassure area residents who might be concerned at the lack of formal security features such as fences and guards at the site.
“These will be selected men, probably between the ages of 18 and 25, who have already spent several months at a secure center and have been de-toxicated.”
He explained that the addict is almost always a sensitive person, easily hurt, who then retreats from life’s problems through the solace of drugs.
“One of our first jobs is to resocialize the addict, to try and give him a new social personality”
He acknowledged that addiction was a complex problem, with many possible causes and was thus far impossible to cure. Cid believed that the trusting atmosphere at the site, the services provided, along with useful work therapy on the grounds of the Refuge, would prove beneficial. He acknowledged the possibility that the residents might “walk off”, but said that if they did so, they would be returned to a stricter facility.
The Center opened in August 1968, with 11 residents and 26 staff members. On its second anniversary, it had 140 residents and 125 staff. Over the course of the next several years, program residents participated in community events such as the annual Christmas toy drive in Medina.
Citing budget concerns, the closure of the facility was announced on Jan.13, 1976. Again, the announcement was greeted locally with astonishment and dismay. Medina Mayor John Cobb issued a strong resolution to Governor Carey to continue the operation, citing its success, the disruption for clients and their families, and the impact to the local economy of the impending loss of the $1.5 million payroll for the 133 employees.
But to no avail. By May, equipment worth over $3 million had been removed from the site and distributed to other state facilities.
In October 1978, it was announced that the Iroquois Job Corps program would re-open at its original location on Tibbits Road. The underlying philosophy had changed: the emphasis would be on teaching trades; the students would do minimal work for the Refuge.
